Cartridge and a system for an aerosol-forming article including the cartridge

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cartridge ( 10 ), comprising: An outer shell ( 20 ) defining an inner volume containing: A first reservoir ( 30 ) containing a first component and having a first aperture ( 32 ) for discharge of the first component; a second reservoir ( 40 ) containing a second component and having a second aperture ( 42 ) for discharge of the second component; A first removable film ( 34 ) impermeable to the first component sealing the first aperture; A second removable film ( 44 ) impermeable to the second component sealing the second aperture; A seat ( 12 ) having an opening ( 14 ) in said outer shell and delimiting walls within said inner volume, said first and second apertures being formed in said delimiting walls, the seat being configured to house a piercer ( 50 ) of an external component; and Wherein a portion of the first film or a portion of the second film is protruding from said opening or it faces said opening. The present invention also relates to a system for an aerosol-forming article ( 1000 ) and to a method for opening a cartridge in an aerosol-forming article.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A cartridge, comprising:
 An outer shell defining an inner volume containing:
 A first reservoir containing a first component and having a first aperture for discharge of the first component; 
 a second reservoir containing a second component and having a second aperture for discharge of the second component; 
 A first removable film impermeable to the first component sealing the first aperture; 
 A second removable film impermeable to the second component sealing the second aperture; 
 
 A seat having an opening in said outer shell and delimiting walls within said inner volume, said first and second apertures being formed in said delimiting walls, the seat being configured to house a piercer of an external component; and 
 Wherein a portion of the first film or a portion of the second film is protruding from said opening or it faces said opening. 
 
     
     
       2. The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the seat defines a first and a second axial ends, the first axial end including said opening, and the first or the second removable film is U-shaped having a first and a second arms and a bend portion therebetween, wherein the first arm of the first or second U-shaped film seals the first or the second aperture and the bend portion is located at the first or at the second axial end of the seat. 
     
     
       3. The cartridge according to  claim 2 , wherein the bend portion is located at the second axial end of the seat opposite to the opening and the portion protruding from the opening includes an end portion of the second arm of the first or second U-shaped film. 
     
     
       4. The cartridge according to  claim 3 , wherein the first and the second removable films are U-shaped, each removable film having a first and a second arms and a bend portion therebetween, wherein the first arm of the first U-shaped film seals the first aperture and the first arm of the second U-shaped film seals the second aperture, the bend portion of the first removable film and the bend portion of the second removable film are located at the second axial end of the seat opposite to the opening and the portion protruding from the opening includes an end portion of the second arm of the first U-shaped film and an end portion of the second arm of the second U-shaped film. 
     
     
       5. The cartridge according to  claim 2 , wherein the first and the second removable films are U-shaped, each removable film having a first and a second arms and a bend portion therebetween, wherein the first arm of the first U-shaped film seals the first aperture and the first arm of the second U-shaped film seals the second aperture, the bend portion of the first removable film and the bend portion of the second removable film are located at the second axial end of the seat opposite to the opening and the portion protruding from the opening includes an end portion of the second arm of the first U-shaped film and an end portion of the second arm of the second U-shaped film. 
     
     
       6. The cartridge according to  claim 2 , comprising a single U-shaped removable film having a first and a second arms and a bend portion therebetween, wherein said first arm comprises the first removable film sealing the first aperture and the second arm includes the second removable film sealing the second aperture, and wherein said bend portion is protruding from said opening or it faces said opening. 
     
     
       7. A method for opening a cartridge in an aerosol-forming article, comprising:
 Providing a cartridge according to  claim 6 ; 
 Inserting and pushing the piercer of a vaporizer unit in the opening of the seat so as to push the bend portion of the U-shaped film towards the second axial end of the seat opposite to the opening; 
 Abutting a tip of the piercer against the second axial end of the seat opposite to the opening, keeping the bend portion of the U-shaped film between the tip and the second axial end of the seat; 
 Peeling off the first or second removable film while inserting the piercer, due to the piercer and consequent first or second removable film translation. 
 
     
     
       8. Method according to  claim 7 , wherein the step of inserting and pushing the piercer includes:
 Inserting the piercer between the first and the second aperture of the cartridge to hinder fluid communication between the first and the second aperture. 
 
     
     
       9. The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the second axial end of the seat opposite to said opening includes an inner abutment adapted for the abutment of the piercer of the external component. 
     
     
       10. The cartridge according to  claim 9 , wherein said inner abutment includes a slot formed in a wall of the seat. 
     
     
       11. The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the first removable film or the second removable film is realized in paper, or plastic or polymeric material. 
     
     
       12. A system for an aerosol-forming article comprising:
 A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second component are part of an aerosol-forming substrate; and 
 A vaporizer unit including a heat source and a piercer connected to the heat source, the piercer being adapted to be inserted within the seat of the cartridge. 
 
     
     
       13. The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the heat source includes a heating area and the piercer includes a first and a second channel in fluid communication to the first and second aperture, respectively, to transport the first and second components of the aerosol-forming material to the heating area. 
     
     
       14. The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the piercer has a dimension so as to fill the seat substantially completely, so that fluid communication between the first and the second aperture is impeded by the piercer when inserted. 
     
     
       15. The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the piercer comprises a tip, the tip being adapted to be inserted in the inner abutment of the seat. 
     
     
       16. The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the piercer includes a flat body and one or more sealing protrusions projecting from the flat body in a direction substantially perpendicular to the flat body, the one or more sealing protrusions abutting onto an outer surface of the first or second reservoir when the piercer is inserted in the seat of the cartridge. 
     
     
       17. A method for opening a cartridge in an aerosol-forming article, comprising:
 Providing a cartridge according to  claim 1 ; 
 Pulling the portion of the first or of the second film protruding from the outer shell so as to peel off the first or the second removable film and to open the first or second aperture; and 
 Inserting the piercer of a vaporizer unit in the seat.